This is one I'm looking forward to. Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King in SELMA, which opens at the end of the year. Here's something interesting: Her husband, Jeffrey Wright, played Martin Luther King in the TV movie BOYCOTT.

Image 1 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

This is one I'm looking forward to. Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King in SELMA, which opens at the end of the year. Here's something interesting: Her husband, Jeffrey Wright, played Martin Luther King in the TV movie BOYCOTT.

This is one I'm looking forward to. Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott...King in SELMA, which opens at the end of the year. Here's something...interesting: Her husband, Jeffrey Wright, played Martin Luther King...in the TV movie BOYCOTT.

Image 2 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images for DGA

Another upcoming biopic to look forward to -- Don Cheadle as Miles Davis in the upcoming MILES AHEAD.

Image 2 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Another upcoming biopic to look forward to -- Don Cheadle as Miles Davis in the upcoming MILES AHEAD.

Another upcoming biopic to look forward to -- Don Cheadle as Miles...Davis in the upcoming MILES AHEAD.

Fanny Ardant as Maria Callas in "Callas Forever": Looks like her? Pretty much. Sounds like her? Not really. Result: Triumph.
A beautiful portrait of Maria Callas that, among other things, captured Callas's humorlessness -- something that could only be done by an actress with a sense of humor.

Image 4 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Fanny Ardant as Maria Callas in "Callas Forever": Looks like her? Pretty much. Sounds like her? Not really. Result: Triumph.
A beautiful portrait of Maria Callas that, among other things, captured Callas's humorlessness -- something that could only be done by an actress with a sense of humor.

Fanny Ardant as Maria Callas in "Callas Forever": Looks like her? ...Pretty much. Sounds like her? Not really. Result: Triumph.
A...beautiful portrait of Maria Callas that, among other things, captured...Callas's humorlessness -- something that could only be done by an...actress with a sense of humor.

Image 5 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats in "The Hustler": Looked like him? Aside from being fat, not really. Sounded like him? No idea. Result: Triumph.

Image 5 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats in "The Hustler": Looked like him? Aside from being fat, not really. Sounded like him? No idea. Result: Triumph.

Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats in "The Hustler": Looked like him?...Aside from being fat, not really. Sounded like him? No idea. Result:...Triumph.

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Associated Press

Jason Ribards as Ben Bradlee in "All the President's Men": Looked like him? General ballpark. Sounded like him? Not far off. Result: The vibe was right. A great success.

Image 6 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Jason Ribards as Ben Bradlee in "All the President's Men": Looked like him? General ballpark. Sounded like him? Not far off. Result: The vibe was right. A great success.

Jason Ribards as Ben Bradlee in "All the President's Men": Looked...like him? General ballpark. Sounded like him? Not far off. Result: ...The vibe was right. A great success.

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JAY MAIDMENT / AP

Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin in "Beyond the Sea": Looked like him? No. Maybe like him 20 years older. Sounded like him? Close enough. Result: Calamity.

Image 7 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin in "Beyond the Sea": Looked like him? No. Maybe like him 20 years older. Sounded like him? Close enough. Result: Calamity.

Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin in "Beyond the Sea": Looked like him? No.... Maybe like him 20 years older. Sounded like him? Close enough....Result: Calamity.

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United Artitst 1980

De Niro as Jake LaMotta in "Raging Bull": Looks like him? Sure. Sounds like him? Who knows what Jake LaMotta sounds like? Result: Triumph. A great chameleonic performance that, in retrospect, seems also to be about De Niro too -- or that at least enunciates the kind of person he brings to the screen.

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De Niro as Jake LaMotta in "Raging Bull": Looks like him? Sure. Sounds like him? Who knows what Jake LaMotta sounds like? Result: Triumph. A great chameleonic performance that, in retrospect, seems also to be about De Niro too -- or that at least enunciates the kind of person he brings to the screen.

De Niro as Jake LaMotta in "Raging Bull": Looks like him? Sure. ...Sounds like him? Who knows what Jake LaMotta sounds like? Result: ...Triumph. A great chameleonic performance that, in retrospect, seems...also to be about De Niro too -- or that at least enunciates the kind...of person he brings to the screen.

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Associated Press

Redford and Hoffman in "All the President's Men": They were 10 years older than the men they portrayed, so they brough an entirely different atmosphere. In the end, they played their screen persona, and it worked.

Image 9 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Redford and Hoffman in "All the President's Men": They were 10 years older than the men they portrayed, so they brough an entirely different atmosphere. In the end, they played their screen persona, and it worked.

Redford and Hoffman in "All the President's Men": They were 10 years...older than the men they portrayed, so they brough an entirely...different atmosphere. In the end, they played their screen persona,...and it worked.

Angela Bassett as Tina Turner in "What's Love Got to Do With It?":...Looked like her? Enough. Sounded like her? Pretty much. Result:...Triumph.

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Ben Kingsley as Gandhi in "Gandhi":
Looks like him? Uncanny. Sounds like him? Close enough. Result: Triumph. It's a good movie, not the kind that ages well, but Kingsley's performances holds up.

Image 11 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Ben Kingsley as Gandhi in "Gandhi":
Looks like him? Uncanny. Sounds like him? Close enough. Result: Triumph. It's a good movie, not the kind that ages well, but Kingsley's performances holds up.

Ben Kingsley as Gandhi in "Gandhi":
Looks like him? Uncanny. Sounds...like him? Close enough. Result: Triumph. It's a good movie, not the...kind that ages well, but Kingsley's performances holds up.

Image 12 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn in "The Aviator": Looks like her? Not really. Sounds like her? Almost too much so. Result: Qualified success. It's very, very close to too much -- but then she was playing Katharine Hepburn, and half the time Hepburn herself was too much.

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Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn in "The Aviator": Looks like her? Not really. Sounds like her? Almost too much so. Result: Qualified success. It's very, very close to too much -- but then she was playing Katharine Hepburn, and half the time Hepburn herself was too much.

Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn in "The Aviator": Looks like her?...Not really. Sounds like her? Almost too much so. Result: Qualified...success. It's very, very close to too much -- but then she was...playing Katharine Hepburn, and half the time Hepburn herself was too...much.

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Kenneth Branagh as FDR in "Warm Springs": Looks like him? Not really. Branagh is shorter and less handome. Sounded like him? Just a touch. Result: Success. Branagh doesn't over-Roosevelt it, just inflects it with enough FDR that we get it. Lovely work.

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Kenneth Branagh as FDR in "Warm Springs": Looks like him? Not really. Branagh is shorter and less handome. Sounded like him? Just a touch. Result: Success. Branagh doesn't over-Roosevelt it, just inflects it with enough FDR that we get it. Lovely work.

Kenneth Branagh as FDR in "Warm Springs": Looks like him? Not...really. Branagh is shorter and less handome. Sounded like him? Just...a touch. Result: Success. Branagh doesn't over-Roosevelt it, just...inflects it with enough FDR that we get it. Lovely work.

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Branagh as Laurence Olivier in "My Week With Marilyn": Looks like him? Not that much. Sounds like him? A touch. Part tribute and part send-up, this is a delightful portrait of Laurence Olivier. Branagh plays it like an actor who knows that he is giving a horrible performance (in the film within a film) but he is so off his game, he can't self-correct. Very funny.

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Branagh as Laurence Olivier in "My Week With Marilyn": Looks like him? Not that much. Sounds like him? A touch. Part tribute and part send-up, this is a delightful portrait of Laurence Olivier. Branagh plays it like an actor who knows that he is giving a horrible performance (in the film within a film) but he is so off his game, he can't self-correct. Very funny.

Branagh as Laurence Olivier in "My Week With Marilyn": Looks like...him? Not that much. Sounds like him? A touch. Part tribute and part...send-up, this is a delightful portrait of Laurence Olivier. Branagh...plays it like an actor who knows that he is giving a horrible...performance (in the film within a film) but he is so off his game, he...can't self-correct. Very funny.

Image 15 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Christian Bale in AMERICAN HUSTLE -- another case of a fictional character not quite being a fictional character.

Image 15 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Christian Bale in AMERICAN HUSTLE -- another case of a fictional character not quite being a fictional character.

Christian Bale in AMERICAN HUSTLE -- another case of a fictional...character not quite being a fictional character.

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Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Capote":
Looks like him? Enough. Sounds like him? Oh, yes. Result: Triumph. Fascinating performance, a complete immersion into Capote's speech and manner that managed to suggest that this was a great artist and a serious, all-observing mind.

Image 16 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Capote":
Looks like him? Enough. Sounds like him? Oh, yes. Result: Triumph. Fascinating performance, a complete immersion into Capote's speech and manner that managed to suggest that this was a great artist and a serious, all-observing mind.

Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Capote":
Looks like him? Enough. Sounds...like him? Oh, yes. Result: Triumph. Fascinating performance, a...complete immersion into Capote's speech and manner that managed to...suggest that this was a great artist and a serious, all-observing...mind.

Image 17 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig in "Pride of the Yankees": Looks like him? Close. Sounds like him? No. Cooper played Lou Gehrig as Cooper, without the old-time NY accent that Gehrig had. Result? Success.

Image 17 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig in "Pride of the Yankees": Looks like him? Close. Sounds like him? No. Cooper played Lou Gehrig as Cooper, without the old-time NY accent that Gehrig had. Result? Success.

Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig in "Pride of the Yankees": Looks like him?...Close. Sounds like him? No. Cooper played Lou Gehrig as Cooper,...without the old-time NY accent that Gehrig had. Result? Success.

Image 18 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Denzel Washington in "Malcolm X":
Looks like him? Close enough. Sounds lile him? Even closer. Result: Triumph. Watch this movie and then watch videos of Malcolm X -- you'll see what an observant performance Washington gave.

Image 18 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Denzel Washington in "Malcolm X":
Looks like him? Close enough. Sounds lile him? Even closer. Result: Triumph. Watch this movie and then watch videos of Malcolm X -- you'll see what an observant performance Washington gave.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes in "The Aviator": Looks like him? Close enough. Sounds like him? Close enough. Result: Success. A natural match of actor and role.

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Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes in "The Aviator": Looks like him? Close enough. Sounds like him? Close enough. Result: Success. A natural match of actor and role.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes in "The Aviator": Looks like him? ...Close enough. Sounds like him? Close enough. Result: Success. A...natural match of actor and role.

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AFP / AFP/Getty Images

British actor Daniel Day-Lewis poses with his BAFTA award, one of the string of honors he received for playing the title role in LINCOLN. Of course, we have no moving pictures and no recordings of Lincoln, but Day-Lewis was true to what we know of him -- that he had a high pitched voice -- and he looked just like him.

Image 20 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

British actor Daniel Day-Lewis poses with his BAFTA award, one of the string of honors he received for playing the title role in LINCOLN. Of course, we have no moving pictures and no recordings of Lincoln, but Day-Lewis was true to what we know of him -- that he had a high pitched voice -- and he looked just like him.

British actor Daniel Day-Lewis poses with his BAFTA award, one of the...string of honors he received for playing the title role in LINCOLN. ...Of course, we have no moving pictures and no recordings of Lincoln,...but Day-Lewis was true to what we know of him -- that he had a high...pitched voice -- and he looked just like him.

Image 21 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

DiCaprio as "J. Edgar": Looks like him? Well . . . like Hoover if Hoover wore age make-up. Sounds like him? Probably, but not convincingly. Result: Audience discomfort. This is when imitating a guy goes bad. An uninhabited performance that an audience roots for but never believes.

Image 21 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

DiCaprio as "J. Edgar": Looks like him? Well . . . like Hoover if Hoover wore age make-up. Sounds like him? Probably, but not convincingly. Result: Audience discomfort. This is when imitating a guy goes bad. An uninhabited performance that an audience roots for but never believes.

DiCaprio as "J. Edgar": Looks like him? Well . . . like Hoover if...Hoover wore age make-up. Sounds like him? Probably, but not...convincingly. Result: Audience discomfort. This is when imitating a...guy goes bad. An uninhabited performance that an audience roots for...but never believes.

Image 22 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Christian McKay in "Me and Orson Welles": Looks like him? Oh, yes. Sounds like him: Very much so. Result: One of the best performances of a real person in recent memory.

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Christian McKay in "Me and Orson Welles": Looks like him? Oh, yes. Sounds like him: Very much so. Result: One of the best performances of a real person in recent memory.

Christian McKay in "Me and Orson Welles": Looks like him? Oh, yes. ...Sounds like him: Very much so. Result: One of the best performances...of a real person in recent memory.

Image 23 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Fred Ward as Ronald Reagan in "Farewell": Looks like him? Enough. Sounds like him? A little. Result: Success. Ward gave the screen's best performance of Reagan so far in this French film, which portrayed the 40th president as a folksy but shrewd operator on the world stage.

Image 23 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Fred Ward as Ronald Reagan in "Farewell": Looks like him? Enough. Sounds like him? A little. Result: Success. Ward gave the screen's best performance of Reagan so far in this French film, which portrayed the 40th president as a folksy but shrewd operator on the world stage.

Fred Ward as Ronald Reagan in "Farewell": Looks like him? Enough. ...Sounds like him? A little. Result: Success. Ward gave the screen's...best performance of Reagan so far in this French film, which portrayed...the 40th president as a folksy but shrewd operator on the world stage.

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Warners, 1991

Gary Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald in "JFK": Looked like him? Yes. Sounded like him? He sounded more like Oswald than Oswald did. Result: Great success.

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Gary Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald in "JFK": Looked like him? Yes. Sounded like him? He sounded more like Oswald than Oswald did. Result: Great success.

Gary Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald in "JFK": Looked like him? Yes. ...Sounded like him? He sounded more like Oswald than Oswald did....Result: Great success.

Image 25 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Colin Firth as George VI in "The King's Speech": Looks like him? No. Sounds like him? Not really. Result: Triumph. He exploited well the advantage that most people had never heard George VI and had no ideas as to the level of his speech problem. So he was able to create much of that from the ground up.

Image 25 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Colin Firth as George VI in "The King's Speech": Looks like him? No. Sounds like him? Not really. Result: Triumph. He exploited well the advantage that most people had never heard George VI and had no ideas as to the level of his speech problem. So he was able to create much of that from the ground up.

Colin Firth as George VI in "The King's Speech": Looks like him? No. ...Sounds like him? Not really. Result: Triumph. He exploited well the...advantage that most people had never heard George VI and had no ideas...as to the level of his speech problem. So he was able to create much...of that from the ground up.

Image 26 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Bruno Ganz in "Downhall": Looks like him? Yes. Sounds like him? Scarily so in his rages. Result: Triumph. Of the many screen Hitlers, this was the best. Ganz showed us Hitler in full lunatic swing and also in private moments with his adoring staff -- we saw what he really was but also how he saw himself.

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Bruno Ganz in "Downhall": Looks like him? Yes. Sounds like him? Scarily so in his rages. Result: Triumph. Of the many screen Hitlers, this was the best. Ganz showed us Hitler in full lunatic swing and also in private moments with his adoring staff -- we saw what he really was but also how he saw himself.

Bruno Ganz in "Downhall": Looks like him? Yes. Sounds like him? ...Scarily so in his rages. Result: Triumph. Of the many screen...Hitlers, this was the best. Ganz showed us Hitler in full lunatic...swing and also in private moments with his adoring staff -- we saw...what he really was but also how he saw himself.

Image 27 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Alec Guinness in "Hitler: The Last Ten Days": Looks like him? More like Obi-wan with a mustache. Sounds like him? Not even close. Result: Just awful. Played him like an English fuddy-duddy.

Image 27 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Alec Guinness in "Hitler: The Last Ten Days": Looks like him? More like Obi-wan with a mustache. Sounds like him? Not even close. Result: Just awful. Played him like an English fuddy-duddy.

Alec Guinness in "Hitler: The Last Ten Days": Looks like him? More...like Obi-wan with a mustache. Sounds like him? Not even close. ...Result: Just awful. Played him like an English fuddy-duddy.

Image 28 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Anthony Hopkins in "Nixon": Looks like him? Not really. Sounds like him? Hard to say whether Hopkins imitated Nixon or imitated the imitation, but it was ridiculous. If Nixon were even half as a stiff and weird as portrayed here, no one would have voted for him, ever -- forget about taking 49 states in 1972. Hopkins would do speeches that Nixon put over well and deliver them as though he were about to have a nervous breakdown. Result: Calamity

Image 28 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Anthony Hopkins in "Nixon": Looks like him? Not really. Sounds like him? Hard to say whether Hopkins imitated Nixon or imitated the imitation, but it was ridiculous. If Nixon were even half as a stiff and weird as portrayed here, no one would have voted for him, ever -- forget about taking 49 states in 1972. Hopkins would do speeches that Nixon put over well and deliver them as though he were about to have a nervous breakdown. Result: Calamity

Anthony Hopkins in "Nixon": Looks like him? Not really. Sounds like...him? Hard to say whether Hopkins imitated Nixon or imitated the...imitation, but it was ridiculous. If Nixon were even half as a stiff...and weird as portrayed here, no one would have voted for him, ever --...forget about taking 49 states in 1972. Hopkins would do speeches that...Nixon put over well and deliver them as though he were about to have a...nervous breakdown. Result: Calamity

Image 29 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland": Looks like him? Close enough. Sounds like him? Not sure. Result: Amazing.
He played Idi Amin as a big, selfish, evil, highly perceptive, extremely sensitive eight year old boy. Terrifying.

Image 29 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland": Looks like him? Close enough. Sounds like him? Not sure. Result: Amazing.
He played Idi Amin as a big, selfish, evil, highly perceptive, extremely sensitive eight year old boy. Terrifying.

Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland": Looks...like him? Close enough. Sounds like him? Not sure. Result: ...Amazing.
He played Idi Amin as a big, selfish, evil, highly...perceptive, extremely sensitive eight year old boy. Terrifying.

Image 30 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Network": Looks like him? Not really. Sounds like him? Not really. Result: Success. Jesse Eisenberg seemed to take his cue from the script rather than from a study of the real-life person he was portraying. The result was something completely organic and right for the film that wasn't necessarily like the actual person.

Image 30 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Network": Looks like him? Not really. Sounds like him? Not really. Result: Success. Jesse Eisenberg seemed to take his cue from the script rather than from a study of the real-life person he was portraying. The result was something completely organic and right for the film that wasn't necessarily like the actual person.

Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Network": Looks...like him? Not really. Sounds like him? Not really. Result: ...Success. Jesse Eisenberg seemed to take his cue from the script...rather than from a study of the real-life person he was portraying....The result was something completely organic and right for the film...that wasn't necessarily like the actual person.

Image 31 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Bruce Greenwood in "Thirteen Days": Looks like him? Enough but not quite. Sounded like him? Sort of. Result: Success. Really interesting. He didn't imitate Kennedy but colored his own manner with a Kennedy vibe that borrowed from private films and Robert Drew's Oval Office documentaries , rather than from the rousing speeches.

Image 31 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Bruce Greenwood in "Thirteen Days": Looks like him? Enough but not quite. Sounded like him? Sort of. Result: Success. Really interesting. He didn't imitate Kennedy but colored his own manner with a Kennedy vibe that borrowed from private films and Robert Drew's Oval Office documentaries , rather than from the rousing speeches.

Bruce Greenwood in "Thirteen Days": Looks like him? Enough but not...quite. Sounded like him? Sort of. Result: Success. Really...interesting. He didn't imitate Kennedy but colored his own manner...with a Kennedy vibe that borrowed from private films and Robert Drew's...Oval Office documentaries , rather than from the rousing speeches.

Image 32 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon": As Nixon, Langella did what Bruce Greenwood did as Kennedy -- with equally excellent results.

Image 32 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon": As Nixon, Langella did what Bruce Greenwood did as Kennedy -- with equally excellent results.

Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon": As Nixon, Langella did what Bruce...Greenwood did as Kennedy -- with equally excellent results.

Madonna as Eva Peron in "Evita": Looked like her? Not exactly. Sounded like her? Eva Peron didn't sing. In a sense, the real person Madonna was playing here was Patti Lupone, who had the role on Broadway. Maodnna is no Patti Lupone, but she can sing and she can dance, and something about this role released her to show something vulnerable for once. It's a forgotten movie now, an asterisk to a famous stage production, but it probably represents the best thing Madonna will ever do on screen.

Image 34 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Madonna as Eva Peron in "Evita": Looked like her? Not exactly. Sounded like her? Eva Peron didn't sing. In a sense, the real person Madonna was playing here was Patti Lupone, who had the role on Broadway. Maodnna is no Patti Lupone, but she can sing and she can dance, and something about this role released her to show something vulnerable for once. It's a forgotten movie now, an asterisk to a famous stage production, but it probably represents the best thing Madonna will ever do on screen.

Madonna as Eva Peron in "Evita": Looked like her? Not exactly. ...Sounded like her? Eva Peron didn't sing. In a sense, the real person...Madonna was playing here was Patti Lupone, who had the role on...Broadway. Maodnna is no Patti Lupone, but she can sing and she can...dance, and something about this role released her to show something...vulnerable for once. It's a forgotten movie now, an asterisk to a...famous stage production, but it probably represents the best thing...Madonna will ever do on screen.

Image 35 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar for playing a real-life AIDS sufferer in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB.

Image 35 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar for playing a real-life AIDS sufferer in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB.

Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar for playing a real-life AIDS sufferer...in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB.

Image 36 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Michelle Williams in "My Week With Marilyn": Looks like her? Enough. Sounds like her? Enough. Result: Triumph. This performance articulates the modern conception of Monroe, as a kind of saint of sex. Technically and spiritually sophisticated. Beautiful work.

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Michelle Williams in "My Week With Marilyn": Looks like her? Enough. Sounds like her? Enough. Result: Triumph. This performance articulates the modern conception of Monroe, as a kind of saint of sex. Technically and spiritually sophisticated. Beautiful work.

Michelle Williams in "My Week With Marilyn": Looks like her? Enough.... Sounds like her? Enough. Result: Triumph. This performance...articulates the modern conception of Monroe, as a kind of saint of...sex. Technically and spiritually sophisticated. Beautiful work.

Image 37 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

ho / ho

Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford in "Mommie Dearest": Looked like her? Pretty close. Sounded like her? Close enough. Result: Good and bad. A camp classic with a good central performance, it's also the film that Dunaway thinks killed her career.

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Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford in "Mommie Dearest": Looked like her? Pretty close. Sounded like her? Close enough. Result: Good and bad. A camp classic with a good central performance, it's also the film that Dunaway thinks killed her career.

Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford in "Mommie Dearest": Looked like her?...Pretty close. Sounded like her? Close enough. Result: Good and bad. A...camp classic with a good central performance, it's also the film that...Dunaway thinks killed her career.

Image 38 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Sean Penn in "Milk": Looks like him? Enough. Sounds like him? Enough. Result: Triumph. He wasn't exactly like Harvey Milk, nor was he like Sean Penn. He was a Sean Penn with a part of himself opened up because he was playing Milk. A great performance.

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Sean Penn in "Milk": Looks like him? Enough. Sounds like him? Enough. Result: Triumph. He wasn't exactly like Harvey Milk, nor was he like Sean Penn. He was a Sean Penn with a part of himself opened up because he was playing Milk. A great performance.

Sean Penn in "Milk": Looks like him? Enough. Sounds like him? ...Enough. Result: Triumph. He wasn't exactly like Harvey Milk, nor...was he like Sean Penn. He was a Sean Penn with a part of himself...opened up because he was playing Milk. A great performance.

Image 39 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Helen Mirren in "The Queen": Looks like her? Yes. Sounds like her? Not really sure. Result: Triumph. It's impossible for us to know QE 2's private manner, but it's easy to be persuaded that Helen Mirren came close.

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Helen Mirren in "The Queen": Looks like her? Yes. Sounds like her? Not really sure. Result: Triumph. It's impossible for us to know QE 2's private manner, but it's easy to be persuaded that Helen Mirren came close.

Helen Mirren in "The Queen": Looks like her? Yes. Sounds like her? ...Not really sure. Result: Triumph. It's impossible for us to know QE...2's private manner, but it's easy to be persuaded that Helen Mirren...came close.

Image 40 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

handout / sfc

Chaplin as Hitler in "The Great Dictator": Looks like him? Oh, yes. Sounds like him? Sort of. Result: Hilarious.

Image 40 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Chaplin as Hitler in "The Great Dictator": Looks like him? Oh, yes. Sounds like him? Sort of. Result: Hilarious.

Chaplin as Hitler in "The Great Dictator": Looks like him? Oh, yes. ...Sounds like him? Sort of. Result: Hilarious.

Image 41 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Ralph Nelson / Universal Studios

Michael Sheen as David Frost in "Frost Nixon." Looks like him? Close. Sounds like him? A touch. Result: Success. Both Sheen and co-star Frank Langella went for a light touch that inflected their characters instead of imitating them, with good results.

Image 41 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Michael Sheen as David Frost in "Frost Nixon." Looks like him? Close. Sounds like him? A touch. Result: Success. Both Sheen and co-star Frank Langella went for a light touch that inflected their characters instead of imitating them, with good results.

Michael Sheen as David Frost in "Frost Nixon." Looks like him? ...Close. Sounds like him? A touch. Result: Success. Both Sheen and...co-star Frank Langella went for a light touch that inflected their...characters instead of imitating them, with good results.

Image 42 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

OSAMU HONDA / Associated Press

Dustin Hoffman as LENNY: Looks like him? Not really. Sounds like him? A little. Result: Success.

Image 42 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Dustin Hoffman as LENNY: Looks like him? Not really. Sounds like him? A little. Result: Success.

Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in "Invictus": Looks like him? Pretty much. Sounds like him: Close enough. Result: Mixed. It's not Freeman's fault, but his voice is so much his signature that to hear him speaking in another way was disorienting.

Image 43 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in "Invictus": Looks like him? Pretty much. Sounds like him: Close enough. Result: Mixed. It's not Freeman's fault, but his voice is so much his signature that to hear him speaking in another way was disorienting.

Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in "Invictus": Looks like him?...Pretty much. Sounds like him: Close enough. Result: Mixed. It's...not Freeman's fault, but his voice is so much his signature that to...hear him speaking in another way was disorienting.

Image 44 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Associated Press

George C. Scott as "Patton": Looked like him? Pretty much. Sounded like him? No. Result: Triumph. Like the best chameleonic performances, it became a channel for expressing something of the actor's own vision, personality and attitude.

Image 44 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

George C. Scott as "Patton": Looked like him? Pretty much. Sounded like him? No. Result: Triumph. Like the best chameleonic performances, it became a channel for expressing something of the actor's own vision, personality and attitude.

George C. Scott as "Patton": Looked like him? Pretty much. Sounded...like him? No. Result: Triumph. Like the best chameleonic...performances, it became a channel for expressing something of the...actor's own vision, personality and attitude.

Image 45 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Weinstein Co. 2007

Cate Blancett as Bob Dylan in "I'm Not Here": Looked like him? Yes, if he were a woman. Sounded like him? Not exactly. Result: Very annoying.

Image 45 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Cate Blancett as Bob Dylan in "I'm Not Here": Looked like him? Yes, if he were a woman. Sounded like him? Not exactly. Result: Very annoying.

Cate Blancett as Bob Dylan in "I'm Not Here": Looked like him? Yes,...if he were a woman. Sounded like him? Not exactly. Result: Very...annoying.

Image 46 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth in "Schindler's List": Looked like him? Not really. Sounded like him? No idea. Result: Triumph.

Image 46 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth in "Schindler's List": Looked like him? Not really. Sounded like him? No idea. Result: Triumph.

Meryl Streep as Julia Child in "Julie and Julia": Looks like her? Yes. Sounded like her? Yes. Result? Triumph. She made everyone fall in love with Julia Child by showing us her joy.

Image 52 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Meryl Streep as Julia Child in "Julie and Julia": Looks like her? Yes. Sounded like her? Yes. Result? Triumph. She made everyone fall in love with Julia Child by showing us her joy.

Meryl Streep as Julia Child in "Julie and Julia": Looks like her? Yes.... Sounded like her? Yes. Result? Triumph. She made everyone fall in...love with Julia Child by showing us her joy.

Image 53 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

David Straitharn in "Good Night, and Good Luck": Looks like him? Profoundly. Sounds like him? Yes. Result: Almost the entire performance presented Murrow in his public role, allowing Straitharn to essentially play the Murrow that we know from old TV clips. But sometimes giving us the voice and the manner ends up revealing the soul, and that's what happened here.

Image 53 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

David Straitharn in "Good Night, and Good Luck": Looks like him? Profoundly. Sounds like him? Yes. Result: Almost the entire performance presented Murrow in his public role, allowing Straitharn to essentially play the Murrow that we know from old TV clips. But sometimes giving us the voice and the manner ends up revealing the soul, and that's what happened here.

David Straitharn in "Good Night, and Good Luck": Looks like him?...Profoundly. Sounds like him? Yes. Result: Almost the entire...performance presented Murrow in his public role, allowing Straitharn...to essentially play the Murrow that we know from old TV clips. But...sometimes giving us the voice and the manner ends up revealing the...soul, and that's what happened here.

Image 54 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Woody Harrelson as Larry Flynt in "The People vs. Larry Flynt": Looks like him? A little. Sounds like him? A little. Result? Success.

Image 54 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Woody Harrelson as Larry Flynt in "The People vs. Larry Flynt": Looks like him? A little. Sounds like him? A little. Result? Success.

Woody Harrelson as Larry Flynt in "The People vs. Larry Flynt": Looks...like him? A little. Sounds like him? A little. Result? Success.

Image 55 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Jennifer Jason Leigh as Dorothy Parker in "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle": Looked like her? Close enough. Sounded like her? If anything, she sounded more mannered than the real Parker. Result: A real style piece and an audacious turn.

Image 55 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Jennifer Jason Leigh as Dorothy Parker in "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle": Looked like her? Close enough. Sounded like her? If anything, she sounded more mannered than the real Parker. Result: A real style piece and an audacious turn.

Jennifer Jason Leigh as Dorothy Parker in "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious...Circle": Looked like her? Close enough. Sounded like her? If...anything, she sounded more mannered than the real Parker. Result: A...real style piece and an audacious turn.

Toby Jones as Truman Capote in "Infamous": Looks like him? Identical. Sounds like him? Close enough. Result: Toby Jones was even more spot-on as Truman Capote than Philip Seymour Hoffman, but less believable as an artist. His Capote may, in fact, have been more true to life, but Hoffman's was more interesting.

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Toby Jones as Truman Capote in "Infamous": Looks like him? Identical. Sounds like him? Close enough. Result: Toby Jones was even more spot-on as Truman Capote than Philip Seymour Hoffman, but less believable as an artist. His Capote may, in fact, have been more true to life, but Hoffman's was more interesting.

Toby Jones as Truman Capote in "Infamous": Looks like him?...Identical. Sounds like him? Close enough. Result: Toby Jones was...even more spot-on as Truman Capote than Philip Seymour Hoffman, but...less believable as an artist. His Capote may, in fact, have been more...true to life, but Hoffman's was more interesting.

Image 58 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Jessica Chastain in ZERO DARK THIRTY. Chastain supposedly played a real person -- but in this case, the person was an intelligence agent, whose identity was never revealed. I give this example to how how, even when a role doesn't seem to be based on something real, it often is. Chastain, as usual, was wonderful in the role.

Image 58 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Jessica Chastain in ZERO DARK THIRTY. Chastain supposedly played a real person -- but in this case, the person was an intelligence agent, whose identity was never revealed. I give this example to how how, even when a role doesn't seem to be based on something real, it often is. Chastain, as usual, was wonderful in the role.

Jessica Chastain in ZERO DARK THIRTY. Chastain supposedly played a...real person -- but in this case, the person was an intelligence agent,...whose identity was never revealed. I give this example to how how,...even when a role doesn't seem to be based on something real, it often...is. Chastain, as usual, was wonderful in the role.

Image 59 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

FRANK CONNOR / AP

Will Smith as Ali in "Ali": Looks like him? Almost. Not as pretty, but what can you expect. Sounds like him? Close enough. Result: Mixed. A heroic job, but something in the dangerous essence was lost.

Image 59 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Will Smith as Ali in "Ali": Looks like him? Almost. Not as pretty, but what can you expect. Sounds like him? Close enough. Result: Mixed. A heroic job, but something in the dangerous essence was lost.

Will Smith as Ali in "Ali": Looks like him? Almost. Not as pretty,...but what can you expect. Sounds like him? Close enough. Result: ...Mixed. A heroic job, but something in the dangerous essence was lost.

Image 60 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET -- Leonardo DiCaprio gave the performance of life as Jordan Belfort, a real-life Wall Street swindler.

Image 60 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET -- Leonardo DiCaprio gave the performance of life as Jordan Belfort, a real-life Wall Street swindler.

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET -- Leonardo DiCaprio gave the performance of...life as Jordan Belfort, a real-life Wall Street swindler.

Image 61 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

UK Press via Getty Images

Chiwetel Ejiofor played a real historical figure in 12 YEARS A SLAVE, though so little is known about the man that he could be created from the ground up.

Image 61 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Chiwetel Ejiofor played a real historical figure in 12 YEARS A SLAVE, though so little is known about the man that he could be created from the ground up.

Chiwetel Ejiofor played a real historical figure in 12 YEARS A SLAVE,...though so little is known about the man that he could be created from...the ground up.

Image 62 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

c.20thC.Fox/Everett / Rex Featur / c.20thC.Fox/Everett / Rex Featur

Henry Fonda in "Young Mr. Lincoln" Looked like him? Close enough. Sounded like him? Well, we don't know. But Lincoln had a high-pitched voice, and Fonda sort of did, too. Result: He didn't play the legend, but a country lawyer, and with great success.

Image 62 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Henry Fonda in "Young Mr. Lincoln" Looked like him? Close enough. Sounded like him? Well, we don't know. But Lincoln had a high-pitched voice, and Fonda sort of did, too. Result: He didn't play the legend, but a country lawyer, and with great success.

Henry Fonda in "Young Mr. Lincoln" Looked like him? Close enough. ...Sounded like him? Well, we don't know. But Lincoln had a...high-pitched voice, and Fonda sort of did, too. Result: He didn't...play the legend, but a country lawyer, and with great success.

Image 63 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Patti Perret / The Weinstein Company

Sienna Miller as Edie Sedgwick in "The Factory": Looked like her? A little. Sounded like her? Not sure. Result: A performance that worked on its own terms. One of those movies where the less you know about the actual person, the better.

Image 63 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Sienna Miller as Edie Sedgwick in "The Factory": Looked like her? A little. Sounded like her? Not sure. Result: A performance that worked on its own terms. One of those movies where the less you know about the actual person, the better.

Sienna Miller as Edie Sedgwick in "The Factory": Looked like her? A...little. Sounded like her? Not sure. Result: A performance that...worked on its own terms. One of those movies where the less you know...about the actual person, the better.

Image 64 of 64|Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Warner Bros. 1967

Faye Dunaway in "Bonnie and Clyde": She looked nothing like Bonnie Parker, and who knows what Bonnie Parker sounded like? In a sense, she gave us the fantasy of a 1960s woman living in 1932.

Image 64 of 64 - Actors and Actresses Playing Real People

Faye Dunaway in "Bonnie and Clyde": She looked nothing like Bonnie Parker, and who knows what Bonnie Parker sounded like? In a sense, she gave us the fantasy of a 1960s woman living in 1932.

Faye Dunaway in "Bonnie and Clyde": She looked nothing like Bonnie...Parker, and who knows what Bonnie Parker sounded like? In a sense,...she gave us the fantasy of a 1960s woman living in 1932.

Friday’s opening of the biopic, “Get On Up,” starring Chadwick Boseman as James Brown, becomes an opportunity for us to look back on the modern trend of people playing real people on screen. Of course, film biographies and historical dramas have always been with us, but it’s mainly in recent years that they’ve dominated the Oscar categories and have made up a big percentage of the prestige film roles.

This is not a trend that I love, generally speaking, though when you get results like Meryl Streep in “Iron Lady,” or Michelle Williams in “My Week With Marilyn” — it’s impossible to complain.

What we’re especially seeing more of in recent years are movies that depict people that we not only know by name and deed, but have seen and heard. It’s the difference between Johnny Depp playing John Dillinger and Robert Downey, Jr. playing Charlie Chaplin. Depp can play Dillinger as a version of himself, but Downey has to enter into a negotiation with a screen image that everyone knows.

How different actors handle this negotiation varies. Sometimes an actor or actress will inflect a performance with certain qualities of the person, like Bruce Greenwood playing JFK in “Thirteen Days.” Sometimes the real person will be ignored. And sometimes the performer will choose to do something of an imitation, and these range from doing the voice (Cate Blancett in “The Aviator”) to a complete chameleonic immersion.

Michael Sheen looked, sounded and acted like Tony Blair in three movies, but soft-pedaled his approach to David Frost in “Frost/Nixon.” Both strategies worked beautifully.

Indeed, what is curious — and yet to be expected, if we think about it — is that there is no pattern, no relationship between choosing one course or the other and success. All the approaches work, or don’t. All approaches lead to triumph or embarrassment. As we can see from the above.

Take a look, and if you can think of other performers who’ve played publicly prominent real people — to good or bad effect — feel free fill in the blanks.